Relevant Relationships Based Networking Environment

A method of controlling member access to information and communication means in a networking environment to enhance and enable a first member's ability to gather information about a second member before deciding whether to seek to connect with the second member and then to connect the first and second members if they agree to connect, the method comprising the networking environment:

• providing the identity of relevant other members who are or where in communication with the first member as well as the second member and who may have information about the second member;
• accepting the first member's selection of relevant other member to be polled;
• polling the selected relevant others about the second member;
• receiving the polled information from the polled members and providing it to the first member;
• accepting a request to connect from the first member to the second member and sending same to the second member;
• connecting the first and second members upon agreement of the second party to connect and any further confirmation, if required.

A method of controlling member access to information and communication means in a networking environment, the method comprising:

• the networking environment provides a pass code to a member of the networking environment, or the member provides a pass code to the networking environment, and the networking environment accepts the pass code;
• a pass code time period of use is determined by the network and/or the member;
• the member provides the pass code to another member of the networking environment or to a non-member of the networking environment which member receives the pass code;
• the pass code recipient accesses the networking environment and provides the pass code to the networking environment within the time period of use;
• the networking environment utilizing the provided timely pass code establishes access to information and communication between the pass code recipient and the pass code provider.

A method of controlling member access to information and communication means, where access is determined based on information maintained by a networking environment concerning which members are connected through other members to still other members and in which environment if the connection between members is disconnected access to that member and the still other members is normally disabled, the method comprising a first member through its connection with a second member has access to other members and the networking environment:

• receives instructions from the first member to disconnect from the second member;
• places the disconnected first and/or second member and all other members who are accessible through the disconnected members in a phase-out condition;
• provides access to all members who had access prior to the disconnection to maintain access while the members remain in the phase-out condition;
• removes members from the phase-out condition upon some preset condition;
• and
• disables all access through the disconnected members.

A method of controlling member access to information and communication means in a networking environment by controlling the ability of members to add additional member connections, the method comprising the networking environment:

• receives notification in connection with the addition of member as a new connection to an existing member;
• provides information about the additional member to select members of the existing member's current connections;
• receives directions from the select members as to whether the additional member should be added to the existing member's connections;
• and
• connects or does not connect the additional member to the existing member in accordance with the received directions.

A method of controlling member access to information and communication means in a networking environment comprising multiple aspect networks, the method comprising the networking environment:

• providing for connections between a first member and a second member of a first aspect network;
• allowing the second member to view information about members in a second aspect network in which the first member is a member;
• receiving a request from the second member to connect with the first member in the second aspect network;
• informing the first member of the request;
• receiving direction from the first member regarding the request;
• and
• connecting or not connecting the first and second members in the second aspect in accordance with the received direction.

A method of providing a networking environment, the method comprising:

• managing data for a plurality of members, each member including profile data that cannot be viewed by other members without a relationship between the members;
• receiving invitee credentials for viewing profile data of a first member from a second member;
• enabling the second member to view the profile data of the first member in response to the invitee credentials;
• and enabling a third member to view the profile data of the first member in response to the invitee credentials, wherein relationship data defines the third member as a peer of the second member.

A system for providing a networking environment, the system comprising:

• a component configured to manage data for a plurality of members, each member including profile data that cannot be viewed by other members without a relationship between the members;
• a component configured to receive invitee credentials for viewing profile data of a first member from a second member;
• a component configured to enable the second member to view the profile data of the first member in response to the invitee credentials;
• and a component configured to enable a third member to view the profile data of the first member in response to the invitee credentials, wherein relationship data defines the third member as a peer of the second member.

A method for graphically showing relationships between members in a networking environment, the method comprising the networking environment:

• maintaining information regarding the paths taken by members in finding each other in order to connect;
• and
• displaying the information so as to describe to a viewer:
• the current connections between the members;
• how and/or through which other member or members the members found each other;
• and, if they are no longer connected, how the members were connected.